Okay. This is going to be a long, ranty costuming post about how much I hate fashion from the 1820's through the 1870's, so I'm putting it behind a cut. But I do still need some help. . .
Well. . . it would be nice to have something that I can convince costume approval people is actually *period*. That way I'm not wasting my effort for next year! If I really didn't care at all, I'd be making another bustle gown. Having a drawing that actually says "1849" on it that I can make a dress from goes a long way towards costume approval. . . At least that's my story, and I'm sticking to it!
That whole lopsided concept makes sense when you think about the actual horse and sitting on said beastie. I'm hoping to fake it a bit with a bit of a train, like this:
And nope, you still can't convince me that gowns with strange droopy shoulders and sleeves are attractive. Although I really do like your Nickleby gown, probably because it is similar to what I am envisioning for my riding gown! : )
Hmmm - if you're thinking of this as a future costume to wear when working Dickens, I'd be surprised if they approved a riding costume specifically. You could probably get away with something tailored, but I doubt a riding costume would pass approval.
The Nickleby gown has the low shoulders. It's Simplicity 4400, fitted to me, with my own skirt. The heavy linen I was working with didn't want to make the double-puff sleeves, so I made a single puff. Simplicity 3791 isn't bad either.
Like I said, it sounds like what you want is "tailored" rather than "fuffy". While "fuffy" is period, tailored is as well.
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That whole lopsided concept makes sense when you think about the actual horse and sitting on said beastie. I'm hoping to fake it a bit with a bit of a train, like this:
http://pre1900prints.com/Fashion/EquestrianG49.htm
And nope, you still can't convince me that gowns with strange droopy shoulders and sleeves are attractive. Although I really do like your Nickleby gown, probably because it is similar to what I am envisioning for my riding gown! : )
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Like I said, it sounds like what you want is "tailored" rather than "fuffy". While "fuffy" is period, tailored is as well.
http://www.mccord-museum.qc.ca/largeimages/NBM/33697.JPG
http://www.columbia.edu/itc/barnard/theater/kirkland/3136/Early_19th_Century_Gallery/pages/1837.htm
(dress on the right: 1842)
http://www.museum.vienna.at/images/Ausstellungen/Mode/billetSA273a2.jpg
The trick is "big shoulders, big skirt, small waist"
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